The Sentinel - U3A Balsall Common

The Sentinel
                       The newsletter of Balsall Common u3a
                                                      Editor Len Tomnie

                                                     February 2021

Chairman’s monthly review
Due to the continuing uncertainties of Covid-19 and taking into account
the safety and well-being of all our members in Balsall Common U3A,
the Executive Committee (Trustees) decided at the beginning of January
that there would be no core meetings nor face to face group meetings
before May 2021. However plans are being progressed “fingers
crossed” to hold our AGM at the Core meeting on 13th May in St
Peter’s Hall.
However life, but perhaps not as we know it, carries on in its
unpredictable way and I’m reminded of the following interesting
happenings in the past four weeks.
Woman’s Hour celebrated 75 years of broadcasting on 4th January with
a message from HM Queen read out by its new presenter Emma
Barnett. It also celebrated the 70th anniversary of The Archers. Then
Countryfile host Anita Rani joined Emma Barnett to present the Friday
and Saturday editions.
Great Pottery Throwdown returned to Channel 4. All the contestants,
judges and crew formed a bubble last autumn to allow the series to be
filmed. Then Winterwatch returned to BBC Two.
For the first time in the UK two female chefs, Clare Smyth & Hélène
Darroze, have been awarded three Michelin stars.
2020 turned out to be the warmest year on record in Europe. Then
this month Storm Christoph brought to the UK gales, heavy rain, snow
and floods with residents having to be evacuated, roads closed and rail
services suspended. Balsall Common saw a good fall of snow last week
and a selection of socially distanced snowmen appeared in our street.
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Changing the subject - if you were hoping for an invitation to a Garden
Party this year you’ll be unlucky as they have all been cancelled for this
year, as has the Glastonbury Festival. As it was Burns Night on 25th
January, I give you his Selkirk Grace: “Some hae meat and canna eat,
And some wad eat that want it, But we hae meat and we can eat, Sae
let the Lord be Thankit!”
At auctions a painting of Tintin and his dog Snowy by the Belgian artist
Hergé sold for €3.2m, breaking the record for the most expensive
original comic book art sold. Can you remember playing with Matchbox
toy cars when you were a child? You might have stopped years ago, but
one man who has been adding to his collection of nearly 3000 models
over 60 years decided to part with them and received more than
£300,000.
Despite there being no spectators at sporting events did you notice the
phantom clapping? Now to move on to some highlights which caught
my eye.
Darts: Gerwyn Price beat Gary Anderson 7-3 to become the first
Welshman to win the PDC World Championship and at the same time
became the new world number one.
Football: Should footballers be allowed to hug each other? Was Celtic's
trip to Dubai “really essential"? After 18 months as Chelsea’s manager,
Frank Lampard was sacked to be replaced by Thomas Tuchel, the
eleventh manager since Abramovich bought the club in 2003. Some
upsets in the FA Cup rounds included Crawley Town beating Leeds
United 3-0 and Southampton beating Arsenal (the 2020 winners) 1-0.
Formula 1: This year's season will start later after the Australian and
Chinese Grands Prix were postponed because of Covid-19. It means
that the Bahrain Grand Prix scheduled for 28 March now looks poised
to become the 2021 season-opener. Lewis Hamilton has still to sign for
Mercedes.

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Indoor Bowls: Mark Dawes won the open singles & open pairs emulating
his same victories in 2018.
Sailing: Ineos Team UK sailing “Britannia” won the Round Robin races
to go straight through to the Prada Cup Final. The winners of the races
in this to be competed in February, will take on Emirates Team New
Zealand for the America’s Cup. Yannick Bestaven won the Vendée
Globe solo round the world sailing race in just over 80 days. He was
not the first to cross the finishing line but he was handed a time bonus
of more than 10 hours for his role in rescuing a fellow competitor.
Snooker: In the final of the Masters, Scotland's John Higgins faced
Chinese debutant Yan Bingtao. Higgins led 5-3 and 7-5 but Yan won five
of the next six to triumph 10-8. Yan’s Masters debut at the age of 20 is
a year older than Ronnie O'Sullivan was when he became the youngest
champion by beating Higgins in the 1995 final.
Test Cricket: India defeated Australia by three wickets in the final match
to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. England won both matches
against Sri Lanka by 7 & 6 wickets respectively. Joe Roots tally of 426
runs is the second highest for England in a two match series.
Finger’s crossed, 2021 could be a fantastic year for sport… After the
postponements, cancellations and rescheduling of so many events last
year, 2021 promises to be memorable. Major events taking place
include football’s European Championship and golf’s Ryder Cup and
Solheim Cup. Also, the Rugby League World Cup is being held in
England, the British & Irish Lions rugby union team tour South Africa
and for women’s rugby union there’s a World Cup in New Zealand.
The Six Nations international rugby union championship start next
week.
Unfortunately, depending on who you listen to, it looks as if the
Olympics and Paralympics in Tokyo will be cancelled, but it is rumoured
that Florida has offered to act as host.
Finally golf turned its back on Donald Trump when the Royal & Ancient
Club stated that it would not stage the Open at his Turnberry course in
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Scotland for the foreseeable future. And in America plans to play next
next year’s US PGA Championship at his Bidminster course in New
Jersey were cancelled.
So until next time keep safe and keep well. Jim Melville 28/02/2021
Remember, today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday
2021 Membership Renewals Reminder
Renewals are now due. These have been set at a reduced rate of
£4.75 for anyone renewing by cheque (payable to Balsall Common
U3A and sent/delivered to Richard Drake, Merrivale, Green Lane,
Balsall Common CV7 7EJ).
Thank you to those who have already renewed. Currently 206
members have already renewed leaving 120 still to do so. I appreciate
there may be some "cheques in the post".
If you do not intend to renew please let us know. Anyone who has not
renewed by 14th March will have their membership cancelled. "
A new brand identity for Balsall Common u3a
A new brand identity for the u3a movement was launched at the
September AGM of the Third Age Trust and Balsall Common u3a
committee have recently agreed to its adoption.
Now, more than any other time in its 40 year history, the U3A
movement needed to raise its profile in order to attract a younger
profile of members, to help stem any decline in membership, and of
course to encourage the establishment of more u3as.
The new logo looks like this:

The use of “University of the Third Age” has been discontinued.
Yellow and Blue remain the colours which have been refreshed to feel
more modern and fun.

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The logo should be used in its simplest form as a single colour. It can
either be used alongside our strapline “Learn, Laugh, Live” or on its
own alongside your u3a name.
The DM Sans font is the official font for use in any text, such as in
newsletters or PowerPoint presentations. The 3 and the A/a that
appear in the logo have been specially created and the standard DM
Sans 3 and A/a can be used when creating text. However Balsall
Common u3a will be using Gill Sans MT as it is readily available on all
platforms.
This identity will be gradually rolled out over the next few months.
Many of you will have noticed the changes already made by Peter
Calver on our website – thank you Peter.
“He who laughs last didn’t get the joke.”

Steve Procter
Normally an announcement of a member’s death would not be placed
in The Sentinel. However, as core and group meetings aren't happening
at the moment an exception is being made. Steve Procter sadly died in
January after a long period of ill health. He was an early member of
Balsall Common u3a having joined in 2007. For many years Steve was
the Coordinator for the Film Study and Music Appreciation Groups. He
looked after the sound equipment at the core meetings in St Peter’s
Hall until a loop system was installed and until two years ago was the
Accounts Scrutineer who signed off our annual accounts for the AGMs.
His funeral service will be held at St Peter’s Church on the 11th
February at 1.45. Further information will be available shortly from J.
Deeley & Son, the funeral directors in Balsall Common (01676 534237).
Because of Covid-19 restrictions numbers attending a funeral are
limited to 30. However it is planned to “live stream” his service using a
private YouTube link. Steve will be remembered with affection by many
members.

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Scams
National Trading Standards have produced a video about how to avoid
scams.
A link to this can be found on the News and Local Events section of the
Balsall Common u3a website, www.balsallcommonu3a.org
A pessimist is a person who has had to listen to too many optimists.
More entries in the u3a Eye competition.
These are from two of our members under the “Old and New”
heading.

New flora, old flora by                         Old drill, new drill by
Angela Reid.                                     Jim Melville.

A large print edition of The Sentinel is available on the website.
www.balsallcommonu3a.org

If you know of any member who is in hospital, ill at home or bereaved, please
inform a committee member and, if appropriate we will arrange to contact
the member.

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